If Lacy expects the Packers to change their tune, he may want to look at the example of right guard T.J. Lang, who today signed a three-year deal to join the division-rival Lions. Green Bay didn’t make a competitive offer, as their final proposal was $21.5MM over three years with $6.5MM guaranteed, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Instead, Lang will earn $28.5MM and $19MM in guarantees over the same three-year term with Detroit. Lang would have re-signed with the Packers if the offer was close, reports Demovsky.

The Packers may not have an obvious internal candidate to replace Lang, as Demovsky details. 2016 second-round pick Jason Spriggs slid inside to guard for a few games last season, but he’s more likely to stay at tackle long-term, leaving Don Barclay, Lucas Patrick, and Kyle Murphy as other option to take over for Lang. While Green Bay could look to add a veteran on the cheap, the club will most likely use the draft to find a new interior lineman, per Demovsky.

Cornerback Marcus Cromartie visited with the Lions on Saturday, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Cromartie, 26, hit the open market last week after San Francisco declined to offer him a restricted free agent tender. Cromartie has appeared in 21 games during his three-year NFL tenure, mostly acting as a special teams player during that time.

20 comments on “NFC North Notes: Packers, Lacy, Lang, Lions”

Why? Because he’s not willing to overpay players comin back from injuries. Lang got a bigger deal than most fans felt comfortable giving him. Lacy is not the only quality RB on the open market so why pay a premium just because he players here last season?

I couldn’t have said it better myself. The Packers have other options to play on the offensive line;that’s why they draft linemen year in year out (esp w.their compensary draft picks). Both Murphy and Spriggs are physically bigger and stronger than tj, give them time, they easily could be pro bowlers too. There’s no need to tie up cap room for an aging vet coming off an injury or bring back Lacy who will be a change of pace or goal line back at best. Ty has the starting job, he’s even changing his number, so get ready to see him there full time being an all around back. So there is no urgency to absolutely bring him back, if he wants to be a Packer, he will stay a Packer.

Lions could sure use a big bruising RB who can complement Abdullah. Lacy or Blount would make sense and each would bring something to a backfield that desperately needs help. Blount is more athletic while Lacy is a better pass catcher. Don’t know why Detroit hasn’t brought in either for a visit yet.

Can you read? Article said he played guard last year but is more likely to stay at tackle. He was a tackle in college and is a tackle in NFL who can play guard and he did. He never said he played tackle last year.

Best option for Green Bay on the offensive line is to insert Spriggs at right tackle and kick Bulaga inside to guard to replace Lang. the Packers didn’t move up in the 2nd round of the draft to draft a player they plan on keeping on the bench. A move to guard will lengthen Bulagas career, and allow the Packers to put their best five linemen on the field. By 2018 they will be better off having not re-signed Lang. Spriggs will be an excellent pass blocking right tackle. Bulaga has played guard earlier in his career. As far as Lacy, they should stick to their guns, this is a great running back draft class, Lacy isn’t long for this league, the Packers can upgrade by using a pick in the first three rounds to replace him. Cook or McCaffery would be great round 1 options but if they decide to go defense in the first they could look to move up in round 2 to select Kamara. They met with Texas back DOnta Foreman at the combine. if they want a younger version of Lacy, he’s their guy, or they could take the character risk on Mixon. There’s some great mid round options too such as Oklahoma’s other back Perine, Boise states McNichols, or James Conner, and the late rounds are loaded with steals like Joe Williams from Utah, D’Angelo Henderson from coastal Carolina, jamaal Williams from byu, and many more.

Don’t see the Packers taking a chance on Mixon. They are not big on players with character issues. Don’t see the fan base in Green Bay liking that. They want players that will contribute to the team and community. I was privileged to to tour the stadium last summer and learned how tied to the city the team ownership and players are to the city.

Spriggs is a tackle and should be the right tackle. Bulaga isn’t that good and it seems people are giving him a break. I see Bulaga get beat a lot and once was beat…. which resulted in a sack that saw Rodgers get up really slow. They should try and slide Bulaga at RG and allow the Spriggs era begin at RT. Might as well because all the rest of the Line is very young with Bak, Taylor, Linsley and now with a hole at RG with Lang gone. Just start the new era off now.
I also believe if the Packers dont make the playoffs, Ted should go….

Ok… @DonJuan. You say the packers are beginning their decline…. you say! How? They have won the division how many times and the last time happened to be this last season. So, how can you say that GB is in decline when we have not seen them play yet. We have no idea what the roster is going to look like. This roster of the GB Packers is not final. Aside from free agency, the draft, the supplemental draft, OTAs and preseason still needs to happen. So tell me how or where is the proof that the packers are in decline. Are you basing it off the loss of TJ Lang, Lacy and Hyde?? Rodgers is not in decline… the defense was horrible last year. But, again that is last year. I don’t believe they will repeat the same performance this new year. Nothing stays the same on a year to year basis. Example. The Dallas Cowboys offensive line in 2017 will not continue the dominant play they displayed in 2016. To say that it is a sure thing would be crazy.
Let me say something about teams like the packers, that happen to have an elite signal caller. They are never counted out and are always in the mix. Brady, Big Ben, Rodgers, Russell Wilson and new comers like Derek Carr…. those teams will always have a seat at the post season table as long their play doesnt decline. I don’t see any of these QBs play declining anytime soon as they all have talented offensive players at their disposal.

Last word…. I don’t see any team in the NFC North ready to dethrone GB. To much inconsistencies of late. So I will believe it, when I see it.